RPT-NFL-Ravens lead 49ers 21-6 at halftime of Super Bowl

February 03, 2013|Reuters

(Repeats to widen distribution)

By Steve Ginsburg

NEW ORLEANS, Feb 3 (Reuters) - Joe Flacco threw three touchdown passes to give the Baltimore Ravens a commanding 21-6 halftime lead over the turnover-prone San Francisco 49ers in the Super Bowl on Sunday.

Flacco found Jacoby Jones on a spectacular 56-yard scoring strike on the first play after the two-minute warning to put the Ravens comfortably in front.

Jones broke free from the defense but fell down catching the ball just inside the San Francisco 15. He got up and was able to elude several defenders and scamper into the end zone to give the Ravens a 21-3 lead.

A 27-yard field goal by David Akers with three seconds left in the half sliced the 49ers' deficit to 21-6.

In the first two quarters, Flacco completed 13 of 20 passes for 192 yards to pick apart the shellshocked 49ers defense. San Francisco's Colin Kaepernick, looking alternately brilliant and shaky, was eight of 13 for 139 yards.

Flacco looked comfortable in the pocket, throwing a 13-yard scoring strike to Anquan Boldin in the opening quarter and one-yarder to Dennis Pitta 7:10 before intermission.

The Ravens, taking advantage of a San Francisco fumble by LaMichael James and interception of Kaepernick, took control of the game on Flacco's TD pass to Pitta that gave Baltimore a 14-3 advantage.

Flacco's play-action fake to Ray Rice froze the 49ers' defense and allowed Pitta to get free in the middle of the end zone and successfully complete the 10-play, 75-yard march.

The Ravens scored on their first possession when Flacco found Boldin in the back of the end zone for the touchdown, capping a six-play, 51-yard drive.

Baltimore was aided by an offside call on third and nine from the 13 by San Francisco's Ahmad Brooks, giving Baltimore new life after an incomplete pass.

Given another chance, Flacco split a pair of 49ers and found Boldin for the score. Flacco looked sharp on the opening drive, completing three of four passes for 41 yards.

San Francisco came back on its next possession, driving to the Ravens eight before a sack of Kaepernick by Paul Kruger on third down pushed the line of scrimmage back 10 yards and forced the 49ers to settle for a 36-yard field goal by Akers. (Editing by Frank Pingue)